Cowell Center

Meningitis Updates

Update from Student Life

The following message was emailed to the campus community on February 4th, 2016 at 12:30PM.

Updated Information and Status

In the interest of keeping our community apprised as information becomes available, I wish to provide an update on the meningococcal infection. We continue to work very closely with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and are following their lead in aggressively managing the situation. Part of our close working relationship is regular communication with the Department to ensure up-to-date information that we can share with you. We have been advised that the first student who was diagnosed with meningitis is improving and the second student was released from the hospital last evening. As of this morning, we were further advised that the Public Health Department has confirmed that a third student has meningococcal infection and is also in fair condition. The three students continue to be under the close care of medical professionals. As a student-centered institution, we place the highest priority on the care and concern for our students. Our current circumstances remind us of this. Our community extends our thoughts and prayers to them for a speedy recovery.

Vaccinations

We are following the County Public Health Department’s recommendation that students receive vaccinations for meningococcal Meningitis B. The University in partnership with with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department have mobilized a vaccination clinic for students at the West Side Concourse Level of the SCU's Leavey Athletic Center. We are using all communications means at our disposal to inform and encourage our students to get the vaccine being offered.

Because faculty and staff are not at increased risk for meningococcal infection due to their limited contact with students, the County Public Health Department asks that faculty and staff refrain from being vaccinated at SCU's Leavey Athletic Center this Thursday or Friday, unless they have medical conditions such as asplenia, a complement deficiency, or sickle cell anemia. Faculty and staff will be contacted with instructions for when and where they can be vaccinated.